Results 1,381-1,400 of 1,737 for speaker:Noel Rock

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Gender Equality (7 Mar 2017)

Noel Rock: 810. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the latest report which showed that the gender pay gap has widened by 6.5% in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11873/17]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills Development (7 Mar 2017)

Noel Rock: 811. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the State has adopted the European Commission's Quality Framework on Traineeships, which was a key element of the youth guarantee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11945/17]

Topical Issue Debate: Addiction Treatment Services (2 Mar 2017)

Noel Rock: First, it is rather impressive that the Minister of State managed to land it bang on time. She must have rehearsed the timeline for that speech.

Topical Issue Debate: Addiction Treatment Services (2 Mar 2017)

Noel Rock: I thank the Minister of State for her sustained and consistent commitment to this work. Since she was appointed as a junior Minister she has given this sustained focus. It also speaks positively for the Government's priorities that she has done so. In terms of the answer itself, it is very positive. I would be glad to report that back to FAST. I would appreciate if the Minister of State...

Topical Issue Debate: Addiction Treatment Services (2 Mar 2017)

Noel Rock: I am grateful to be given the opportunity to speak on this issue, which is a concern for many people in the Finglas area. The Finglas Addiction Support Team, FAST, works tremendously hard in partnership with participants, their families and communities to create a more inclusive society in Finglas and to ensure participants become active citizens in the context of their own well-being and...

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Mar 2017)

Noel Rock: I thank Mr. McCarthy for the information. Earlier he was speaking with a colleague, Deputy Peter Burke, about the case where Dublin City Council gave a €6.6 million interest free loan to James Elliott Construction in respect of Ballymun Regeneration Limited in addition to the contract for €10 million of building repair works which were not put out to tender. Mr. McCarthy...

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Mar 2017)

Noel Rock: What steps are being put in place to make sure something like this does not happen again? This seems only to have come to light as a consequence of documents being revealed to The Irish Times.

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Mar 2017)

Noel Rock: Why was a tender not put in place for the construction works? I can understand the loan component to a certain extent.

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Mar 2017)

Noel Rock: It was a peculiar set of circumstances as Mr. McCarthy himself acknowledges.

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Mar 2017)

Noel Rock: In the same part of the world geographically, Mr. McCarthy referenced modular housing in his answer to Deputy Cullinane's questions about Ballymun. Is the feeling that, financially, the modular home project was something of a learning experience? Would Mr. McCarthy say that, based on the figure per unit he gave?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Mar 2017)

Noel Rock: While the cost per unit was competitive with a regular build house, the timelines of the modular housing project were consistently delayed. Would it have been the case that it would have been better to simply build regular houses?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Mar 2017)

Noel Rock: In terms of that timeline, there were lessons learned there as well that would optimise things in future.

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Mar 2017)

Noel Rock: Deputy Cullinane hit on something that came up at our parliamentary party meeting last night, which is the number of vacancies, especially in Dublin, where 6.9% of housing units are vacant versus, for example, London, where the figure is 1.9% and the UK generally, where 2.4% of housing units are vacant. Is the Department developing any policy responses to deal with that?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Mar 2017)

Noel Rock: I understand the repair and leasing scheme is subject to a significant expansion. Was that announced today or is it to be announced?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Mar 2017)

Noel Rock: Does the Department have any national targets if it is to expand it nationally?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Mar 2017)

Noel Rock: Is Mr. McCarthy familiar with the social housing public private partnership, PPP, bundle 1 project?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Mar 2017)

Noel Rock: Then Mr. McCarthy knows that it was initiated by his Department in budget 2015 and entails six sites across five local authority areas. While it is yet to be initiated, it is causing considerable concern among the communities affected. Mr. McCarthy discussed sustainable communities and community development with Deputy Cassells but we must also discuss the social mix. I spent my time as a...

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Mar 2017)

Noel Rock: How did the Secretary General arrive at the funding model? Is this the first time he has put forward such a proposal? I understand there are two phases to the project.

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Mar 2017)

Noel Rock: Mr. McCarthy's response has pre-empted my next question. Would the Department permit a local authority to buy units from this scheme?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Mar 2017)

Noel Rock: In that one instance, on that site, I do not think it is, but that is a matter for me to raise with the local authority. I thank Mr. McCarthy.